Imprinter carriage



June 3, 1969 R. J. MAZIARKA 3,447,459

IMPRINTER CARRIAGE Filed June 30, 1966 Sheet 0112 HQ .7 WI,

June 3, 1969 R. J. MAZIARKA 3,447,459

IMPRINTER CARRIAGE Filed June so, 1966 Sheet 3 of 2 *hf D L United States Patent US. Cl. 101-269 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic driver and base for an imprinter for credit cards or the like including a reciprocating drive member on a base, a self-locating member extending from the reciprocating drive member upwardly from the base with the base being designed and constructed so that the imprinter may be placed on the base with feet on the imprinter being inserted in the base at the same' time the selflocating member is inserted within the slots in the platen of the imprinter.

This invention relates generally to drive mechanisms for reciprocating machine elements, and more particularly, to a motor driven drive for reciprocating the platen carriage of an imprinter.

lmprinters have been in wide use in the transportation industry for ticket writing purposes. One popular form of imprinter includes a stationary platen upon which a removable embossed plate is placed containing the information to be printed, commonly referred to as a code plate. Over the code plate is placed the ticket upon which the legend or information is to be impressed. The operator then slides a movable platen carriage across the ticket thereby imprinting the legend on the ticket from the code plate.

Heretofore the carriages carrying the movable platen member in these imprinters have been manually operated by the clerk at the ticket writing location. As considerable pressure is required for imprinting, the carriage is quite diflicult to reciprocate by hand, and this has resulted in operator fatigue and the frequent destruction of the ticket due to non-uniform movement of the carriage platen.

In accordance with the present invention, a drive mechanism is provided adaptable to commercially available imprinters for reciprocating the imprinter carriage, thereby relieving the operator of a difiicult manual task and improving the performance of the imprinter. The present device is a base as Well as a drive mechanism for the imprinter and is constructed so that the imprinter may be quickly mounted thereon or removed therefrom at the ticket writing location, so that either the drive base of the imprinter may be removed from the ticket writing location for repairs without taking the other component out of service.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved drive mechanism for reciprocating the carriage of an imprinter, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved drive mechanism of the type described generally above with controls Which permits the operator to jog the imprinter platen carriage in its forward or printing stroke and which automatically returns the carriage and arrests it after the return stroke. The provision of this control permits the operator to stop the printing cycle at any time during the printing stroke to correct for misalignment in the ticket or code plate, or for other errors, before the ticket is incorrectly printed, and further frees the operator of any manual manipulation of the carriage after the printing stroke is completed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved base and drive mechanism for an imprinter carriage, of the type described above, having quick release locking mechanism for releasably aflixing the imprinter to the base.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved base and drive mechanism for an imprinter of the type described above with self-locating reciprocating drive arms which are easily insertable into slots on the underside of the imprinter carriage to facilitate the mounting of the drive mechanism with the carriage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved base and drive mechanism for an imprinter carriage, in which the drive consists of a unidirectional motor driving a reciprocal screw which carries a drive carriage adapted to be connected to the imprinter carriage. The reciprocal screw permits unidirectional rotation of the screw while providing for reciprocal movement of the drive carriage which is necessary to have a completely powered imprint cycle.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the base and carriage drive with the imprinter shown diagrammatically in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken generally along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showing the drive mechanism and control switches.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken Of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a subassembly view, partly in cross section, of the underside of a conventional imprinter carriage with the present drive arms inserted in slots therein;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section taken through one of the adapter feet showing one of the releasable locking mechanisms; and,

FIG. 6 is a control circuit for the drive mechanism.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, and particularly FIGS. 1 to 4, a drive-base 10, according to the present invention, is seen to be generally L-shaped in configuration for receiving an imprinter 11.

The imprinter 11 forms no part of the present invention and, therefore, is shown only as a general outline and will not be described in detail except insofar as it relates to the operating functions of the present drive base. It includes stationary platen 13 upon which an embossed ticket writing plate or code plate is placed. Over the code plate the operator places the ticket or sheet upon which the legend is to be impressed. A carriage 15, shown in its rest or initial position in FIG. 1, is reciprocable along the stationary platen 13 to the right in a forward or printing direction, indicated by arrow 17, and in a return direction, indicated by arrow 18. Provided on the platen carriage 15 is a pressure member 20 which rides over the ticket to provide the impressing force for the transfer of the legend to the ticket.

The driver-base 10 is seen to include a pair of spaced frame members 22 and 23 enclosed by a generally L- shaped housing 24.

A unidirectional electric motor 26 is provided within the housing 24 and is fixed to an upstanding portion 27 generally along line 3-3 of frame member 22 by suitable fasteners 28. In this manner, motor shaft 29 is vertically disposed thereby conserving space Within the housing and providing a more compact unit.

A reciprocal screw or cross threaded screw 32 is rotatably mounted in suitable hearings in frame members 22 and 23. Screw 32, by itself, is of conventional design, and as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, is adapted to provide reciprocal motion of a member threaded thereto in response to a unidirectional input. Motor drive shaft 29 is connected to rotate the screw 32 through a worm gear 34 fixed to the drive shaft and an interengaging worm wheel 35 fixed to the screw 32.

A drive carriage 36 threadedly engages the screw 32 and is thereby adapted to be reciprocated Within the housing between the frame members 22 and 23. When the carriage engages either frame member 22 or 23 at the end of one of its strokes, the action of the reciprocal screw 32 will cause a reversal of the carriage 36 in conventional fashion.

Fixed to the upper surface of the carriage 36 is a drive bar 38 having a center portion 39 contiguous with the upper surface of the carriage 36, and projecting L-shaped portions 41 parallel with portion 39. As shown in FIG. 1, this permits the portions 41 of the drive bar to extend upwardly through parallel slots 43 and 44 in the housing member 24. Integrally formed on the ends of the drive bar portions 41 are self-locating arms 46 which extend vertically. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the arms 46 have an arcuate taper thereon to facilitate insertion into slots 48 in the bottom of the imprinter carriage 15, shown in FIG. 4.

As the motor 26 rotates driving screw 32, the carriage 36 moves from its rest position toward the right in the direction of arrow 17 (FIG. 1), driving the imprinter carriage in the ticket writing stroke. When the carriage 36 strikes the frame member 23, the carriage reverses itself automatically due to the characteristics of the reciprocal screw 32 returning the carriage to its rest position.

Releasable locking mechanisms are provided which facilitate the rapid mounting and removal of the imprinter 11 from the base 10. Toward this end and as shown more clearly in FIG. 4, adapter feet 50 are provided having a reduced threaded portion 51 which may be screwed into the threaded holes in the bottom corners of conventional imprinters after the standard feet have been removed therefrom. Normally, four of these feet are employed. In this manner, the present device is adaptable to commercially available manually operable imprinters.

The feet 50 each include an enlarged spacer portion 53 which serves to space the bottom of the imprinter from the top of housing 24 to permit freedom of movement of the drive arm portions 41. A reduced shank portion 55 on the adapter feet 50 is received in one of the bores 60 pro vided in the frame members 22 and 23. The end of shank portion 55 has a further reduced portion 61 which forms locking shoulders 63. Adjacent the reduced portion 61 are transverse slots 65 in the frame members 22 and 23 intersecting the bores 60. Slots 65 receive L-shaped locking members 67 having bifurcated portions 68 (see FIG. 2) which closely flank the reduced portion 61 to lock the feet 50 in the frame members 22 and 23.

To mount a standard imprinter on the present base 10, it is merely necessary to remove the standard feet from the bottom of the imprinter and thread one of the adapter feet 50 in each of the standard holes in the bottom of the imprinter. With the carriage 15 positioned approximately at its left hand position, the imprinter is lowered over the housing 24 inserting the feet 50 into the holes 60 in the frame members 22 and 23. During this movement the self-locating arms 46 will insert themselves in slots 50 in the bottom of the carriage, locating the carriage 15 with respect to the base 10, and correcting for any initial misalignment. Thereafter, it is only necessary to insert the brackets 67 in slots 60 locking the imprinter to the base. The imprinter is then ready for operation.

A control circuit is provided for permitting the operator to jog the carriage 15 during the forward or printing stroke and providing an automatic return and arrest for the carriage, freeing the operator of this function for other duties. Toward this end, and as shown in FIG. 2. a limit switch LS-l is provided adjustably mounted in the bottom of housing member 24. This switch is positioned so that it is actuated by the carriage 36 shortly before the end of the return stroke of the carriage. In this manner, the intertial over-travel of the carriage will cause it to come to rest at the same location consistently. Also, mounted in the housing 24 is a second limit switch LS-2, of the normally open type, which is positioned adjacent the frame member 23 to be actuated by the carriage 36 shortly before the end of the forward stroke of the carriage.

An operator jog switch 70 is provided mounted within frame member 23, and has an operator depressible jog button 71 extending from the frame member for easy access by the operator.

A relay 74 is provided fixed to the frame member 22 for a purpose that will appear below.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control circuit is arranged so that when the jog button 71 is depressed by the operator, the motor 26 will begin rotation driving the carriage 36 and the imprinter platen 15 in their forward or printing stroke. If during this portion of the cycle the operator desires to stop the carriage for any reason it is merely necessary that the button 71 be released, and this will deenergize motor 26 stopping the carriage at any intermediate position in the forward stroke.

When the carriage reaches the end of its forward or printing stroke adjacent the frame member 23, it will actuate the normally open limit switch LS-2, energizing relay 74 through the normally closed limit swith LS4. This closes relay contacts RC-l and RC2. Contacts RC-I serve a holding function of maintaining the relay 7'4 energized even though the carriage 36 rides ofi limit switch LS-2. At the same time, contacts RC-Z bypass the jog switch 70 and, automatically maintain the motor 26 energized even though the jog switch 70 is released. In this manner, an automatic return of the carriage 36 is provided. Near the end of the return stroke, carriage 36 actuate's limit switch LS-l which opens the circuit 'to relay 74 dropping out the contacts RC-1 and RC2, thereby deenergizing motor 26. The rotational inertia of the screw 32 and the motor 26 causes some overtravel of the carriage 36 beyond the point where motor 26 deenergizes. However, the limit switch LS1 is positioned to be actuated before the desired end of the carriage return so that this override may be compensated for.

I claim:

1. A driver and base for an imprinter having a reciprocable platen carriage and a surface for receiving a sheet upon which a legend is to be imprinted, said platen carriage extending around a stationary platen member and having slots in the lower portion thereof, the combination comprising; a base member adapted to receive the imprinter, motor means on said base, a drive member connected to be driven by said motor means, a drive carriage mounted in said base and connected to be reciprocated along said base by said drive member, said member having an unobstructed upper surface penrnitting the imprinter to be placed thereon from above the surface, at lea-st one self-locating member extending from said drive carriage adapted to be inserted in one of said slots in the imprinter carriage, said self-locating member projecting upwardly from said base member surface for reception in one of said slots, said self-locating member being unfastened in said slot, said base member and selfloca'ting member being constructed so that the imprinter may be placed on the base member as a unit at the same time the self-locating member is inserted in said slot, and

means on said base for releasably connecting said imprinter thereto.

2. A driver and base for an imprinter as defined in claim 1, wherein said releasably connecting means includes a plurality of genera-11y vertically openings in said base, an adapter foot received in each of said openings, said feet being connectable to said imprinter, and releasable lock means extending and shiitalble transversely to each of said openings in said base for mounting the imprinter to the base.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said base member includes two spaced frame members, said drive means being rotatably mounted between said frame members, said motor being mounted on one of said frame members opposite the other of said frame members and having an output shaft rotatable about a generally vertical axis, and a generally L-shaped housing surrounding said frame members and motor.

4. A driver and base for an imprinter having a reciprocable platen carriage and a surface for receiving a sheet upon which a legend is to be imprinted, said platen carriage extending around a stationary platen member and having slots in the lower portion thereof, the combination comprising; a base member adapted to receive the imprinter, motor means on said base, a drive member connected to be driven by said motor means, a drive carriage mounted in said base and connected to be reciprocated along said base by said drive member, at least one self-locating member extending from said drive carriage adapted to be inserted in one of said slots in the imprinter carriage, means on said base for releasably connecting said imprinter thereto, and two spaced selfloca'ting mem bers extending from said drive carriage, said self-locating members being tapered and extending upwardly from said base.

5. A power driven base for an imprinter 'having a reciprocating platen carriage and a stationary platen with a surface for receiving a sheet upon 'which a legend is to be imprinted, the combination comprising; a base member adapted to receive said imprinter, motor means on said base, a drive carriage adapted to engage said imprinter carriage, drive means connecting the motor means to reciprocate said drive carriage, a plurality of generally vertical openings in said base, an adapter foot received within each of said openings, said feet Ibeing connectable to said imprinter, and releasable lock means extending transversely to each of said openings in said base for mounting the imprinter to the base, said feet being generally cylindrical and having a reduced portion at the lower ends thereof, said lock means including a bifurcated slide member slidalbly received in said base adjacent each of said openings so that the bifurcated slides fit within the reduced portions of the feet.

6. A carriage drive for reciprocating the platen carriage of an imprinter having a surface for receiving a sheet upon which a legend is to be impressed, the combination comprising, a force transmitting member adapted 'to engage the carriage, means 'for reciprocating said force transmitting member in a forward imprinting stroke and a reverse return stroke including a motor, control means for said motor including :a manually operable switch connected to energize said motor when depressed and to deenergize said motor when released during the forward stroke of said force transmitting member, means responsive to the position :of said force transmitting member adjacent the end of the forward stroke for overriding said manually operable switch and automatically effecting the return stroke of said force transmitting member, said control means including a first limit switch positioned adjacent the end of the forward stroke in the path of travel of said force transmitting member, said first limit switch being connected to energize said motor to drive the force transmitting member in the return stroke, a second limit switch in the path of travel of said force transmitting member adjacent but spaced from the end of the return stroke, said second limit switch being connected to deenergize said motor shortly before the completion of the return stroke, whereby the force transmitting member Will override said second 'limit switch prior to arrest, the force transmitting member including a reciprocable drive carriage, and a reciprocal screw connected to reciprocate said drive carriage, self-locating drive arms extending upwardly from said carriage and adapted to be received in slots in the imprinter platen carriage, .a base member adapted to receive said imprinter, said motor means a plurality of generally vertical openings in said base, an adapter foot received with each of said openings, said feet being connectable to said imprinter, [and releasable lock means extending transversely to each of said openings in said 'base for attaching the imprinter to the 'base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,173,363 3/1965 Martin 101-364 3,232,230 2/1966 Sheldon 101269 3,233,542 2/ 1966 Minardi 101269 3,269,307 8/1966 'Bel'l et al. 101-269 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. J. REED FISHER, Assistant Examiner.

being mounted on said base, 

